What does AANHPI Heritage Month Mean?

Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated in May, honoring the culture and contributions of all the diverse Asian Pacific American identities that exist in America. It’s an important way of remembering various traditions across different cultures as well as an opportunity for raising awareness for the racism and violence that is perpetuated against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. I interviewed some students of AAPI heritage as well as some of the presidents of Asian heritage clubs on campus for their thoughts on the meaning of this month and how they feel about it.

AANHPI and Asian Heritage has always meant community for me. Collectivism and the emphasis on the importance of family and friends that shines through our rich cultures has really shaped my upbringing. Whether it is insisting on paying the bill, making sure no one leaves potlucks hungry or empty handed, or having plans to provide for my parents and family when I’m older, it’s all about community. Being able to serve as AFIA President, I wanted to make sure that it shaped our year. I chose “Barkada” as our theme meaning “a group of friends” to make sure this shone through. With my amazing team, it has truly been such a great experience to have this opportunity as a student leader to build this space and grow our Barkada.
Jaden Leiterman (junior, MLS)

AANHPI month is a commemorative month where those of AANHPI heritage come together to celebrate the rich history and cultural influence that impacted the world we see today. As a Korean-American and representative for KASA, I believe Korean heritage emphasizes ancestral respect, cultural legacy, and traditional arts. Here at Andrews, the rich diversity and appreciation for each other’s backgrounds allows us to express appreciation and spread awareness about Korean culture to the rest of the community. When we hold events such as Night Market and AUnited, we give a glimpse of the passion KASA has for Korean culture and introduce others to the music, food, and background of what being a Korean truly means and stands for.
Lauren Kim (junior, biology)

AANHPI month is super meaningful for the South Asian community on campus because it's a chance to spotlight our culture and celebrate the similarities and differences we share with other Asian cultures! It's an opportunity for collaboration, conversation, and celebration–and it is absolutely a necessity here on the Andrews campus! With so many students of AAPI heritage, this is an opportunity to understand our history and how our culture defines our experiences!
Solana Campbell (junior, business)

Before I came to America this year, I didn’t know that this month existed for Asians. I definitely think it should be talked about more and I really appreciate that there’s a time out of the year that is more dedicated to thinking about the history of people in America that come from these diverse backgrounds.
Belinda Mun (senior, business)

I’m glad that we are celebrating the diversity that is reflected in the Andrews community. I’m half Chinese, and I’m glad to be able to honor that part of my heritage along with all of the food, clothing, and family traditions that come along with it.
Nora Martin (junior, English and psychology)

I would say that for me it’s cool to have a month where I can think more deeply about AAPI history and how my family is a part of that history too. I don’t really do anything in particular to celebrate it, though. I do wish that there was a Chinese American club on campus that I could join, but maybe there aren’t enough of us that there can be a very active club? Either way, it’s nice to have a month where people are encouraged to talk about their culture and share experiences with other people who have been through the same things or want to learn more about differences. Andrews is very diverse and so celebrating all the different cultures here is important, including Asian and Pacific Islanders.
Alexander Hilton (senior, physical therapy)

For us as women, especially Asian women, its important to show support for each other not just this month but every day. It's been really eye opening to be informed to learn about different injustices and what people have been able to get away with in the past in terms of racism. I know that when I didn't know as much about social justice for lots of different communities, I was glad for my friends who educated me and had informative conversations with me. I hope that this month is able to let other people have the opportunity to do the same!
Tyler Lee (senior, business pre-dent)